Warships coming and going

ENTERPRISE is a survey ship capable of providing near real-time environmental information to ships of the Royal Navy. She will also provide data that will ensure charts are up to date and help ensure freedom of navigation for all.

She runs a three-watch-manning routine. Her crew are assigned in to one of three watches, of which only two will be on board at any time, while the other is on leave or on courses in the UK. This enables the ship to remain on deployment for long periods and still allow personnel to return to the UK to be with families.

Ready to deploy globally, she represents unique capabilities that allow the Royal Navy to quickly respond to changes in the global situation, as we do with all high readiness forces. This is one of the benefits of her three watch manning system meaning she can achieve much higher availability whilst also providing balance for the ship’s company.

GIBRALTAR LINK

HMS ENTERPRISE’s current Commanding Officer hails from Gibraltar. Commander Cecil Ladislaus left the Rock in 1995 to study civil engineering at Nottingham University. In January 2000 he joined the Navy and after a career in various different roles he was promoted to commander in the summer of 2018 and in November 2018 he took over command of the Enterprise.

The warships left their home port five days ago at the start of operational deployments to the Gulf and Asia Pacific respectively.

HMS KENT, a Type 23 frigate, will relieve HMS DUNCAN in the Gulf and is scheduled to work alongside US partners as part of the newly-formed International Maritime Security Construct. She will be focused on providing regional maritime security, including counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling activities.

She will also work alongside HMS MONTROSE to escort British-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

Before arriving in Gibraltar, HMS DEFENDER, a Type 45 destroyer, will already have started her operational deployment by participating in Exercise Konkan, working alongside the Indian frigate, INS Tarkash in the English Channel. Konkan is a long-running exercise designed to test the ability of the two Commonwealth navies to operate side-by-side if it comes to the crunch.

DEFENDER’s deployment in the Asia Pacific region aims to strengthen already strong defence ties and demonstrate the UK’s commitment to the peace and prosperity in the region. The presence of the ship proves the UK’s global reach with world-wide interests and world-leading defence capability.

She will take part in maritime security patrols aimed at protecting vital trade routes as part of a long-standing 30-nation maritime force. The Asia Pacific region is increasingly important to the UK for prosperity with more than one third of UK trade by value travelling from this area.